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Bachelor’s Degree Program in Business Administration with a Specialization in
Politics and Management

Portrait Lisa Ruch, Project Manager, Canton of St. Gallen Finance Department

"The specialization in Politics and Management was an essential part of my training. It has opened many doors in the administrative sector that would have remained closed to me on a ‘conventional’ career path."

Lisa Ruch, Project Manager, Canton of St. Gallen Finance Department

Get the best possible start to a career at the intersection of business and society. With a specialization in Politics and Management, you acquire sound, practice-oriented business knowledge to deal with important current issues of financial, social, public health, and environmental policy.

 

At a Glance

Title: Bachelor of Science (BSc) ZHAW in Business Administration with a Specialization in Politics and Management
Academic Achievement: 180 ECTS credits (one ECTS corresponds to approx. 30 hours of study time)
Duration: 6 semesters (full-time), 8 semesters (part-time)
Start of Program: Mid-September (calendar week 38)
Location: Winterthur
Language of Instruction: German; some modules are taught in English
Semester Fee: CHF 720.- (subject to change)
Application Deadline: 30 April 2024 - apply now

What You Will Learn

Megatrends such as digitalization, mobility, health, demographic change, and sustainability/ecologization pose major challenges for the public sector. Private companies, on the other hand, are increasingly impeded by the regulatory state in their business development. This situation calls for problem solvers who can apply their business know-how effectively, are familiar with the special features of the interaction between business and politics, and are able to take them into account. Our specialization in Politics and Management can help you become such a problem solver.

Your Career Prospects

Graduates of this specialization qualify for exciting, challenging jobs in all areas of public administration, in public enterprises (e.g., the Swiss Railways), private companies (especially in the health, energy, and transport sectors), and national or international non-governmental and nonprofit organizations (NGOs and NPOs). After a successful career start, management responsibility (e.g., as a team leader) may very soon be offered to you.

Functions

Sectors

"By opting for a specialization in Politics and Management, I was able to learn about the special characteristics of public sector work as well as gain a classic business management understanding of companies. This has helped me to understand the specific requirements of both areas. I can contribute to a diverse and dynamic corporate environment and actively support corporate development at the intersection of business and the public sector."

Fabio Zappa
Corporate Organization Specialist, Corporate Development, Appenzeller Bahnen AG

Portrait Nastaran Toja

“The interaction between business, politics, and society is at the heart of the Specialization in Politics and Management. My studies gave me a deeper insight into this interconnectedness and opened the door to the NGO sector. Practical examples and case studies inspired us to discuss relevant societal issues – insights that motivate me in my current role at SPORTEGRATION.”

Nastaran Toja
Fundraising & Coordination of Sports Courses, SPORTEGRATION

Portrait Abiramy Somasuntharam

“My degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Politics and Management gave me comprehensive knowledge and honed my analytical thinking skills. Since graduating, I have been working at Accenture as an IT consultant. When applying for the position, my specialization in politics and networked thinking skills definitely worked in my favor. During the job interview, my Bachelor’s thesis on e-voting aroused particular interest.”

Abiramy Somasuntharam
Service Management Senior Analyst, Accenture

Portrait Jonas Banholzer

“Our goal in public administration is to provide the best possible service with limited resources. As an employee, I need to think in business terms, understand political processes, and correctly interpret the state’s role in the wider economy. The specialization in Politics and Management with its broad curriculum has given me the tools to work in this exciting environment for the benefit of society as a whole.”

Jonas Banholzer
Management Support, Finance and Projects, Department of Finance, City of Winterthur

Program Structure and Admission Requirements

Multilingual and Flexible

As a full-time student, the program takes six semesters, as a part-time student eight semesters to complete. While classroom instruction is in German, you will have four semesters of English, bringing you up to Cambridge Advanced level. Four compulsory elective modules will enable you to deepen your knowledge of specific key focus areas.

By choosing four electives from a very wide, continuously updated, range of topics, you will be able to focus on your priorities. Of particular interest to students with a specialization in Politics and Management are modules in the following areas:

What You Need to Qualify

Further details

BSc Brochure (in German)

Question Mark Graphic

Are you interested in our Bachelor’s program in Business Administration and still have questions? Here you will find the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Accreditation

In 2019, this program was awarded the PREMIUM seal by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) for its excellent quality in study and teaching.

The detailed assessment and further information about the accreditations of the ZHAW School of Management and Law can be found here.